All roads lead to the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley for Manchester’s arch rivals

11:36, 16 April 2011

ByManchester Evening News

The eyes the world were on Wembley today as Manchester's two clubs battled it out for a place in the FA Cup Final. Some 60,000 Reds and Blues were heading to London for a match delighted FA bosses claimed would 'capture the imagination of football fans across the world'.

The eyes the world were on Wembley today as Manchester's two clubs battled it out for a place in the FA Cup Final.

Some 60,000 Reds and Blues were heading to London for a match delighted FA bosses claimed would 'capture the imagination of football fans across the world'.

Football insiders said the match – which will be watched on TV by nearly 10m people – would provide a major boost to the 139-year-old cup contest.

And players' chief Gordon Taylor said the surge of interest caused by the two Manchester clubs coming face-to-face at the semi-final stage proved the city was 'the heartbeat of the football world'.

The sheer size of the mass exodus from Manchester was expected to put transport links under huge logistical strain.

British Transport Police is launching its biggest ever operation for a football game as a result of the clash.

Around 250 officers will be involved - and BTP last night warned of problems on the way home due to the late kick-off time.

Only five trains will be available on the return trip from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly after the game - compared to 25 which are heading to the capital.

Police are set to try to segregate fans from the rival clubs into separate coaches.

"We estimate that there will only be capacity for 2,500 to 3,000 fans on trains going back to Manchester,” said the BTP spokesman. "Our officers will be on all the trains going back to Manchester and we will have officers at all key stations on the route.

“On the way back there will be one group of fans who will be disappointed and coupled with the fact that some fans will have consumed alcohol during the day there is the potential for flashpoints.”

There was misery for coaches and motorists heading down to London, too, when a fire caused the closure of the M1 – with warnings it could be shut all weekend.

Drivers were last night advised to seek alternative routes – potentially leading to huge knock-on jams on the M6.

Dave Cronin, operations manager for the Highways Agency north west regional traffic centre, said a decision on when the M1 would be reopened would be made this morning.

He explained: "Structural engineers are still trying to assess whether the intense heat has caused any lasting damage to the motorway bridge structure.

“Once we have been able to properly assess that the bridge is safe we will reopen it.”

ITV1, which is screening the clash, is expected to rack up near-record figures. Chris Curtis, deputy editor of Broadcast magazine, estimated that around 9.5m viewers would tune in to the semi-final, making it the year's most-watched game alongside the United-Chelsea Champions League clash earlier in the week.

He said: "This is the big glamour tie which everyone in the country is interested in.

"There's every chance that United-City semi-final will be better watched than the final itself, which will be between one big club and one not so big club."

Advertising at the match is expected to nets tens of millions of pound.

Wembley bosses have confirmed that the Mancunian takeover will be complete – right down to the pre-match music.

Fans will hear a host of familiar classics, with hits from bands like The Stone Roses, Doves and The Smiths being chosen to give a special Manchester feel.

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